Compartmentalized attache case



July 8, 1969 s. s. GOLDSTEIN T Al, 3,454,068

COMPARTMENTALIZED A'Tmcn CASE Filed Dec. 22. 1967 United States Patent3,454,068 COMPARTMENTALIZED ATTACHE CASE Sam S. Goldstein, 35 E. 35thSt., New York, NY. 10006, and Daniel B. Copen, Spearingtown, N.Y.; saidCopen assignor to Peerless Plastics, Incorporated, New York,

' Filed Dec. 22, 1967, Ser. N0. 692,869

Int. Cl. A45C 3/02, 1/00, 11/26 US. Cl. 1501.6 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to the field of attachecases, and more particularly to an improved form thereof having meansfor retaining in readily available manner a plurality of useful articlesoften required during the course of a business day.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide animproved attache case of the class described in which such articles aremaintained in a location separate from business papers and othernon-personal articles also positioned within the case.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedtwo element attache case, a first element of which forms a casingelement, a portion of which supports a first plurality of personalarticles in readily available condition, and a second element which isselectively disposable within the first mentioned element, an outersurface of which supports additional personal articles.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedattache case of the class described, in which the cost of fabricationmay be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale,distribution and use.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedattache case of the class described which may present an attaractiveexternal appearance.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the fact that the bulk ofthe component parts thereof may be conveniently formed from planarsynthetic resinous materials.

Another feature of the embodiment lies in the fact that the casingelement thereof may be used separately and independently of an insertelement thereof.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends andadvantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the followingdisclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention,showing the same in closed condition.

FIGURE 2 is a similar view in perspective thereof, showing the device inopened condition.

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective of the insert element forming a partof the embodiment in disengaged condition.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view as seen from the plane44 in FIGURE 1.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, comprises broadly a casing element 11 and aninsert element 12.

The casing element 11 is preferably of laminated sheet vinylconstruction, although, where more expensive conice struction isdesired, resort can be made to leather. The element 11 includes a frontpanel 16, a bottom panel 17, a rear panel 18, an upper panel 19, aclosure panel or flap 20 as well as side panels 21 and 22.

The front panel 16 is bounded by an outer surface 24, an inner surface25, side edges 26 and 27, an upper edge 28 and a lower edge 29. A foldline 30, formed by heat sealing or skiving divides an upper pivotallymounted portion 31 from a lower fixed portion 32.

The inner surface 25 in the area of the upper portion 31 mounts apocket-forming member 2511 secured thereto by heat seal lines 34, 35,36, 37, 38 and 39; to define article retaining pockets 40, 41, 42 and43. Snap fastener means 44 and 45 selectively engage cooperating means46 and 47 on the side panels 21 and 22, respectively.

The bottom panel 17 is bounded by end edges, one of which is indicatedby reference character 50, an upper surface 51, a lower surface 52 andside edges 53.

The rear panel 18 is of area equivalent to the front panel 16, and isbounded by inner surface 54, an outer surface 55 and end edges, one ofwhich is indicated by reference character 56.

The upper panel 19 corresponds in area to the bottom panels 17, and isbounded by an inner surface 58, an outer surface 59 and end edges 60 and61. Carrying handle means 62 of conventional type is affixed to theouter surface 59, preferably by means (not shown) which penetrates theupper panel 19. Side edges 63 and 64 interconnect the upper panel 19with the rear panel 18 and the closure panel 20, as best seen in FIGURE4.

The closure panel 20 is bounded by an inner surface 66, an outer surface67, a lower edge 68 and end edges 69 and 70. A conventional closuremember 71 selectively engages a corresponding member 72 on the frontpanel 15 in well known manner to maintain the device 10 in closedcondition.

The side' panels 21 and 22 are similar and symmetrical, each includingan outer surface 74, an inner surface 75, and bounded by side edges 76and end edges 77. Heat sealed flaps 78 provide for interconnection withthe bottom panel 17, in well known manner. Each of the side panels 21,22 includes a forwardly extending tab 29, the lower portion of which isheat sealed to the inner surface of the fixed portion 32 of the frontpanel 16, the upper portion thereof being free of such interconnectionto abut the inner surface of the pivotally mounted portion 31.

The insert element 12 is also preferably formed from heat sealedsynthetic resinous material, and as best seen in FIGURE 3, includesfirst and second wall members 82 and 83, respectively interconnected bya relatively thick fold line area 84.

The first wall member 82 is bounded by an upper edge 86, side edges 87and 88 and a lower edge 89, as well as inner and outer surfaces 90 and91, respectively. The outer surface 91 has heat sealed thereto aplurality of pocket forming members 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96.

The second wall member 83 is of coextensive area, and is bounded by anupper edge 97, side edges 98 and 99, and a lower edge 100. A resilientclip member 101 supports a pad or other writing surface 102 on the innersurface 103.

During use, papers and other non-personal articles may be disposedbetween the Wall members 83 and 84 upon the folding thereof to theposition shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 to permit ready removal of the samewhen required. When such articles are to be removed, it is necessaryonly to unfasten the closure member 71 and fold the upper panel 19 andclosure panel 20 to the position shown in FIGURE 2, whereby the insertelement 12 may be partially or fully withdrawn. Where one of thepersonal articles is desired, the insert element 12 is not with- 3drawn, but rather the upper portion 31 is disengaged from the tabs 29,and folded outwardly as shown in FIG- URE 2, whereby the inner surfaceof the portion 31 and outer surface 91 are simultaneously exposed, forthe selective removal of any desired article (not shown). In thismanner, the principal function of the insert element is unaffected,while it serves a dual function in the provision of the pockets 92-96.

We wish it to be understood that we do not consider the inventionlimited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

We claim:

1. Compartmentalized attache case construction comprising a casingelement and an insert element selectively positionable within saidcasing element; said casing element including a rear wall, side wallsinterconnected to said rear wall for substantially the entire heightthereof, and a forward wall including a lower portion permanentlyinterconnected at the side edges thereof to said side walls, and anupper portion hingedly connected to said lower portion for pivotalmovement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said side walls;said upper portion when in coplanar relation with respect to said lowerportion having an inwardly disposed surface, and article retaining meansthereon; said insert element including a pair of side walls mutuallyinterconnected at lower edges thereof for the retention of planarmaterial there between, one of said walls having an outwardly disposedsurface having article retaining means thereon and adapted to bepositioned opposite said inwardly disposed surface of said forward wallof said casing element, when said insert element is positioned therein,whereby the article retaining means on said outwardly disposed surfaceand said inwardly disposed surface may be simultaneously exposed withoutthe necessity of withdrawing said insert element by outwardly pivotingthe upper portion of said forward wall.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1 including means for retainingsaid upper portion of said forward wall in coplanar relation relative tosaid lower portion thereof.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, said last mentioned meansincluding a snap fastener.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,335,898 12/1943 Arnold 150-342,413,465 12/1946 Ohlsen 150-34 2,612,199 9/1952 Schocket ISO-342,650,630 9/1953 Mytinger 150-34 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,366,538 6/1964France. 1,065,793 4/1967 Great Britain.

' DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

